Furnace or apparatus for making products electrically and means for facilitating discharge of same.



J. H. REID. FURNACE 0R APPARATUS FOR MAKING P RODUCTS ELECTRICALLY AND MEANS FOR FACILITATING DISCHARGE 0F SAME.

APPLICATION mso AUG. I2. 1915.

Patented May 22, 1917.

WITNESSES.-

A TTORIVEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES HENRY REID, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO PATENTS PROCESS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FURNACE OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING PRODUCTS ELECTRICALLY AND MEANS FOR FACILITATING DISCHARGE OF SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application filed August 12, 1915. Serial No. 45,126.

To all whom it may concern Be 1t known that I, JAMES HENRY REID,

a citizen of the United States, residing at 352 Mulberry street, in the city of Newark, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fiurnaces or Apparatus for Making Products Electrically and Means for Facilitating Discharge of Same, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric furnaces and apparatus for treating substances electrically and has for its object the provision of a furnace or apparatus of electrical operating nature having a means in combination for heating fusing, or maintaining fusion of substances being discharged and comprises the combination with a furnace or electrical apparatus of a heater so arranged or disposed as to heat or supply heat to the material being discharged, such as molten substances from the tap-hole, and specifically includes eXteriorly disposed electrical heating means for accomplishing the result.

In electric furnaces particularly of the out the molten products rienced in tappin act that the product cools by reason of the orchills and hole or discharge and the frail carbonlining is broken in an attempt to break through or remove the obstruction. One of the principal objects ofthe present invention therefore is to provide means for overcoming or obviating this serious difficulty.

As an illustration of the invention and manner in which it may be employed an apparatus or furnace especially adapted for distillation or sublimation and making of carbid together with means for securing the product will be taken reference being directed to the accompanying drawing in which, I

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical diagrammatic view partly in section of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention, and

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the lines w-x, Fig. 1, of a lower portion of the transforming receptacle with the exterior heating member.

Similar numerals of reference represent corresponding parts in the various views.

plugs or chokes. up the tap- Referring to the drawings the numeral 1. indicates an electric furnace in which substances are treated or converted by heat orelectrical action, comprising the receptacle 2 provided with a lining 3 and supported on supports 4 by means of the bearmg extensions 5.

The receptacle 2 is provided with a top or cover 9 through which pass the electrodes 10 and 11, which are held or supported by the supports or devices 12 and 13 by means of the insulation guides 43 and 41, the said electrodes passing through the cover 9 and being provided with the insulation sleeves 16 and 17. From the cover extends the outlet 18 provided with the fluid seal 19 and the revolving or movable damper or valve control 20.

The upper section of the cover 9 is also provided with a sealed feed inlet 21, the removable seal of which may be removed and replaced for supplying ingredients to the apparatus during the operation thereof.

The lower section 2 and the upper section 9 are secured together by the clamps 22 and 23. The lower section 2 of the converter is provided with a means 24 for making an electrical connection to the converter of a character opposite to that of the electrodes 10 and 11, and which means includes a securing and releasing member for the electrical conductor. The outlet 18 with its seal 19 communicates with a removable conduit 25 operating through the swinging joint 26. This conduit communicates with an outlet 27 leading to the reservoir 28 and through which the condensed volatile or volatilized products pass to the same, the reservoir 28 being provided with an outlet 29 for the-permanent gases Whereby said gases are conveyed to a reservoir (not shown).

The reservoir 28 for the distillate is provided with the outlet 31 controlled by the valve 33 at the lower part thereof, and the outlet 30 controlled by the valve 32 at a higher point for the removal of lighter products when the reservoir contains Water.

The reservoir 28, is also provided with the legs or supports 34.

'The receptacle 2 with its lining 3 is provided with the outlet or tap-hole 58 and the plug or closure 61 therefor, and the carbon contact base or hearth 6.

The receptacle 3 is also provided with the trough or spout 59 having the conductive lining 60 which communicates with the conductive lining 6 through the tap-hole 58 where the tap-hole is closed by the plug or closure 61.

Located within operative distance of the tap-hole 58 and the conductive lining 60 of the trough or spout 59 are the electrodes 54 and 55 which operate through the insulating sleeves 62 and are regulated by the feed or moving devices 56 and 57 whereby the operative distance of the electrodes may be adjusted to induce and maintain an are between them and the lining 60 in the passage of heating current through molten material passing between them during the discharge of the furnace which prevents the chilling or choking of the tap-hole and provides a selectively heated fore-hearth.

This supplemental heating means for maintaining fusion of discharging substances is operated by electric current supplied through the wires or conductors 52 and 53 by closing the switch 51, the receptacle or furnace being in connection with the other wire 65 the switch 50 being closed.

The fore-hearth arcs are induced and heating maintained so long as the currentpasses.

The cover 9 is also provided with the electrode feed and regulating motors or devices 35 and 36 which are'in circuit with the reversing switch (not shown). The shaft of each motor or electrode regulating device is provided with the spiral thread or worm 37 and 38, which engage the cog wheels 39 and 40, thereby revolving the screw bearing rods which causes the guides 43 and 41 to travel in an upward or downward direction, according to the direction of the revolution of 'the rod and simultaneously carry the electrodes 10 and 11 in like direction being supported by the carrying rods 13 and 12 passing through the sleeves 47 and 48. The electrodes 10 and 11 are attached or secured to the guides 43 and 44 by the binding screws or fixation devices 45 and 46.

The electrodes 10 and 11 are in contact with the electric conductors 63 and 64 and the converter or furnace with the conductor 65 whereby the electrodes and receptacle or converter are brought into electrical circuit through the material in the converter be tween the electrodes and the furnace lining 3 or hearth 6. The heater or conductor actuated discharge is in communication with the circuit supply 49 through the conductors 52 and 53. The switches 50 and 51 serve to make and break the circuit of the current supplied to the electrodes and receptacle or furnace and the supplemental tap-hole heater respectively.

The furnace being cold the electrodes 10 and 11 are lowered into contact with the hearth 6 this establishing a circuit of electric current upon the closing of the switch 50, and as the electrodes are withdrawn an electric arc is produced or established between the electrodes and the lining 3 and hearth 6 of the receptacle, or furnace 1 at which time the material to be acted upon is introduced through the opening 21 and the apparatus closed by securing orclosing the opening.

Current is then passed through the ingredients in the furnace heating it or acting upon it until the volatile constituents or products are evolved and the final residual product results,-at which time when it is desired to withdraw the molten materials from the apparatus electric current is passed through the exterior electrode heater communicating in heat operating distance to the tap-hole or discharge member 58 by closing the switch 51 whereby the current passes through the wires or conductors 52 and 53 and thence through the electrodes 54 and 55 to the lining 60 of the trough or spout 59 thereby heating the materials in the tap-hole or discharge opening 54 and maintaining fusion of the material which is being discharged, upon opening the furnace by removal of the plug or closure 61.

As an example of the process the production of calcium carbid from bituminous coal and lime calcium oxid and the recovery of the tar or volatile products evolved during the action of electricity on the composition will be taken.

A mixture of pulverized bituminous coal and calcium oxid in proportion of one hundred pounds of bituminous coal to 150 pounds of calcium oxid (pulverized) is thoroughly mixed and introduced into the receptacle 2 through the opening 21. It is advisable to mix with this composition about 5% of powdered coke in order to reduce the initial resistance and provide a means for starting the passage of the electric current through the mass at a comparatively low voltage and also provide a means for initially heating the mass through the agency of e ectricity and also provide a means for rendering the mass more or less porous so that the volatile products produced by the action of heat may be more readily evolved and discharged from the mixture. \Vhen the mixture has been introduced into the apparatus the supply opening 21 is sealed and a current of electricity passes through the mixture from the electrodes 10 and 11 to the receptacle 2 by means of said electrodes and the contact 24 of the apparatus. As the current passes through the mixture of bituminous coal and lime the heat generated by the resistance of the ingredients causes the evolution and distillation of various volatile products which condense and accumulate in reservoir 28 from which they may be recovered and the different ingredients afterward secured by fractional distillation or the electric current may be so regulated that each individual volatile ingredient produced by the destructive distillation of the hydrocarbon in the converter 2 may be individually and separately secured during the process of destructive distillation, the temperature being regulated by moving the electrode through the insulating sleeves 16 and 17. When all the volatile products have been distilled off the residual non-volatile carbonaceous matter associated with the lime is heated to a high degree through the passage of electricity and thereby converted into calcium carbid which is finally removed from the receptacle 2 by removing the taphole plug 61, whereby the carbid is discharged while maintained in a molten condition by the heat produced by the arc of the electric current passing between the electrodes 54 and 55. The outlet 18 is provided with a damper 20 which may be regulated by revolution to suitably check the outflow of volatile products evolved during the process of operation, the conduit 25 may be raised and disconnected from the fluid seal device 19 which seal is preferably main tained by means of a low fusible metal.

By exposing the solid'hydrocarbon, such as bituminous coal to the action of controlled electric currents, the internal resist ance will produce intense heat so that the substance will be transformed throughout in a regular and complete manner and will yield a larger percentage of products of more uniform character than in processes devised heretofore, so that the lighter hydrocarbons are not disrupted or cracked and such compounds as ammonia are more largely produced and secured without decomposition.

The non-volatile carbonaceous residue remaining after the evolution of the more volatile and less carbon-containing products produced comprises very heavy hydrocarbon which reacts with a metal. oxyconfpound,

such as calcium carbonate or oXid, at elevated temperatures and produces calcium carbid directly from the coked lime which is bonded with and by the heavy nonvolatile hydrocarbon.

The various volatile products produced by the action of electricity through the electrical resistanceof the carbon-yielding substances operated on may be produced and collected asa composite composition and separated from each other by subsequent fractional distillation or each may be secured as it is produced by maintaining the electrical condition necessary and capable of producing each independently until each has been evolved and the character of electricitysupplied altered to yield a next progressively higher carbon-containing product, whereby the products may be directly obtained separate from each other.

By employing internal heat by electrical action, a more perfect and controlled transformation of the material acted upon into the product desired may be accomplished and the character of the product uniformly maintained without contamination, and also the yield of any individual product desired increased over that secured by any of the means of the prior art, which depends upon the application of employment of externally applied heat for bringing about the destructive distillation and fractional separation of similar carbonaceous substances, and the production of similar products.

As the conductivity of the mass acted upon increases by reason of the increasing non-volatile carbon residue, the electrical current is correspondingly regulated to maintain a uniform and desired temperature. The conductivity of the initial charge may be augmented by associating the car bonaceous substances, to facilitate the starting of the operation by inducing internalheat, throughout the mass, whereby the transformation and evolution of volatile products may be obtained in the interior in an outward direction, thereby enhancing the porosity of the material and discharge of volatile product produced without decomposition.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A furnace or apparatus for making products electrically and means for facilitating discharge of same, which comprises a combination of a closed receptacle provided with a condenser, electrodes therein, means for bringing the electrodes and the receptacle into an electrical circuit, means for altering the resistance between electrodes, electrically actuated means for controlling the resistance altering means, thereby yielding products having varying volatilizing points, means for securing the desired product separately and successively during the operation of the process, and fore-hearth heating means comprising an electric are between opposite electrodes independent of the discharge opening for maintaining the product in a fluid condition at the point of discharge.

2. A furnace or apparatus for making products electrically, and means for facilitating discharge of same, which comprises the combination of a closedreceptacle with a condenser, electrodes therein, means for bringing the electrodes and the receptacle into an electrical circuit, means for altering the resistance between electrodes, electrically ance altering means, thereby yielding products having varying volatilizing points and uniformly inducing and maintaining selective temperatures in substances of progressively varying resistance, means for securing the desired product separately and successively during the operation of the'process, and fore-hearth heating means comprising an electric are between opposite electrodes independent of the discharge opening for maintaining the product in a fluid condition at the point of discharge.

3. A furnace or apparatus for making products electrically, and means for facilitating discharge of same, which comprises the combination of a closed receptacle proindependent of the discharge opening for maintaining the'product in a fluid condition at the point of discharge.

4. A furnace or apparatus for making products electrically, and means for facilitating discharge of same, which comprises a combination of a closed receptacle provided with a condenser, electrodes therein, means for bringing the electrodes and the receptacle into an electrical circuit means for altering the resistance between. electrodes, electrically actuated means for controlling the resistance altering means, thereby yielding products having varying volatilizing points and uniformly inducing and maintaining. selective temperatures n substances-of progressively varying resistance, means for supplying material to be acted upon, means forsecuring the desired product" separately and successively during the operation of the process, and fore-hearth heating means comprising an electric are between opposite electrodes independent of the discharge opening for maintalmng the product in a fluid condition at the po1nt of discharge.

5. A furnace or apparatus for making products electrically, and means forfac1l1- tating discharge of same, whlch comprises a combination of a closed receptacle provided with a condenser, electrodes therein, means for bringing the electrodes and the receptacle into an electrical. circuit, means for altering the resistance between electrodes, electrically actuated means for controlling the resistance altering means, thereby yielding products having varying vola-v tilizing points, a product separator, means for securing the desired product separately and successively during the operation of the process, and fore-hearth heating means comprising an electric arc between opposite electrodes independent of the discharge opening for maintaining the )roduct in a fluid condition at the point of discharge.

6. A furnace or apparatus for making products electrically, and means for facilitating discharge of same, which comprises a combination of a closed receptacle pro vided with a condenser, electrodes therein, means for bringing the electrodes and the receptacle into an electrical circuit, means for altering the resistance between electrodes, electrically actuated means for controlling the resistance altering means, thereby yielding products having varying volatilizing points and uniformly inducing and maintaining selective temperatures in substances of progressively varying resistance, a product separator, means for securing the desired product separately and successively during the operation of the process, and fore-hearth means comprising an electric are between opposite electrodes independent of the discharge opening for maintaining the product in a fluid condition atthe point of discharge.

7. A furnace or apparatus for making products electrically and means for facilitating discharge of same, which comprises a combination of a closed receptacle, provided with a condenser, electrodes therein, means for bringing the electrodes and the receptacle into an electrical circuit, means for altering the resistance between the electrodes, electrically actuated means for controlling the resistance altering means, thereby yielding products having varying volatilizing points, means for securing the desired product separately and successively during the operation of the process, and

fore-hearth heating means comprising an electric are between opposite electrodes 1nde-- pendent of the discharge opening for maintaining the product in a fluid condition at the point of discharge.

8. A furnace or apparatus for making products electrically, and means for facilitating discharge of same, which comprises a combination of a closed receptacle provided with a condenser, electrodes therein,

tilizing points and uniformly inducing and maintaining selective temperatures in substances of progressively varying resistance, means for securing the desired product se rately and successively during the operation of the process, and fore-hearth heating means comprising an electric are between opposite electrodes independent of the discharge opening for maintaining the prodnet in a fluid condition at the point of discharge.

9. A furnace or apparatus for making products electrically, and means for facilitating discharge of same, which comprises the combination of a closed receptacle provided with an attachable and a detachable condenser, electrodes therein, means for bringing the electrodes and the receptacle into an electrical circuit, means for altering the resistance between electrodes, electrically actuated means for controlling theresistance altering means, thereby yielding products having varying volatilizing points, means for supplying material to be acted upon, means for securing'the desired product separately and successively during the operation of the process, and fore-hearth heating means comprising an electricarc between opposite electrodes independent of the discharge opening for maintaining the product in a fluid condition at the point of discharge.

10. A furnace or apparatus for making products electrically, which comprises a combination of a closed receptacle provided with an attachable and a detachable condenser, electrodes therein, means for bringing the electrodes and the receptacle into an electrical circuit, means for altering the resistance between the electrodes, electrically actuated means for controlling the resistance altering means, thereby yielding products having varying volatilizing points and uniformly inducing and maintaining selective temperatures in substances of progressively varying resistance, means for supplying material to be acted upon, means comprising an electric are between opposite electrodes independent of the discharge opening for securing the desired product separately and successively during the operation of the process, and fore-hearth heating means for maintaining the product in a fluid condition at the point of-discharge.

11. A furnace or apparatus for making products electrically, and means for facilitating discharge of same, which comprises a combination of a closed rece )tacleprovided with'a condenser, electrodes therein, means for bringing the electrodes and the receptacle into an electrical circuit, means for altering the resistance between the electrodes; electrically actuated means for controlling the resistance altering means, thereby yielding products having varyi Volatilizing points, a product se arator, means for securing the desired pro uct separately and successively during the operation of the process, and fore-hearth heating means comprising an electric are between opposite electrodes independent of the discharge opening for maintaining the product in a fluid condition at the point of discharge.

12. A furnace or apparatus formaking products electrically, and'means for facilitating discharge of same, which comprises a combination of a closed receptacle provided with an attachable and a detachable condenser, electrodes therein, means for bringing the electrodes and the receptacle into an electrical circuit, means for altering the resistance between electrodes, electrically actuated means for controlling the resistance altering means, thereby yielding products having varying volatilizing points and uniformly inducing and maintaining selective temperatures in substances of progressively varying resistance, a product separator, means for securing the desired product separately and successively during the operation of the process, and fore-hearth heating means comprising an electric are between opposite electrodes independent of the discharge opening for maintaining the product at the point of discharge.

13. In an apparatus for making products electrically, the combination with an electrically actuated furnace or apparatus of a discharge member provided with an arc inducing means comprising an electric are between opposite electrodes independent of the discharge opening for maintaining the product in a fluid condition therein.

14. In an apparatus for making products electrically, the combination with'an electrically actuated furnace or apparatus of a discharge member for the product heated by electricity from an are between supplemental electrodes independent of the furnace discharge.

15. In an apparatus for making products electrically, the combination with an electrically actuated furnace or apparatus of a dis charge member for the product heated by electricity from an are between supplemental electrodes externally disposed and independent of the furnace discharge.

16. In an apparatus for making products electrically, the combination with an electrically actuated furnace or apparatus of a discharge member for the product heated by an electric are from the exterior and independent of the furnace discharge.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES HEHRY REID. [1 s.]

Witnesses PHILIP Hdrr, L. HALsEA CRosfER. 

